Military helicopter to land in Muskegon Heights for training-exercise practice

Exportable Combat Training Capability is the focus for the National Guard at Camp Grayling

It isn't clear what type of helicopter is slated to land in Muskegon Heights on April 16, 2015. In this MLive file photo, a Black Hawk helicopter drops of eight men from Charlie Battery to the ammunition site for an air assault mission during the Exportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center.

(MLive file)

MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, MI -- A military helicopter will be doing a practice landing in Muskegon Heights on Thursday, April 16, in anticipation for a Michigan National Guard event slated for June.

The landing is scheduled for late afternoon on Thursday at a large field off Broadway Avenue near Jarman Street in Muskegon Heights, weather permitting.

Muskegon County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Dan Stout II, the county's emergency services director, said the landing is a rehearsal for the actual event planned in June -- a training exercise that will involve local public safety officials and public health officials, Stout said.

Stout said he is unable to release information about the exercise. If the weather isn't ideal for the landing, it will be rescheduled, Stout said.

The National Guard event is called Northern Exposure, which is taking place across Michigan during the month of June, he said. According to the Michigan National Guard website, Northern Exposure is "a major exercise in Michigan where the military provides defense support to civilian authorities."

Locations included in the exercise are Camp Grayling, Grand Rapids, Fort Custer, Muskegon and numerous other locations, Stout said.

Heather Lynn Peters covers police and fire, and writes a statewide food column, The Spunky Kitchen, for MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. Email her at hpeters@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @HLPNEWS.